Ranking the top 50 NBA players of next season: 40-31

BOSTON, MA - DECEMBER 28: Jaylen Brown #7 and Kemba Walker #8 of the Boston Celtics talk during a game against the Toronto Raptors at TD Garden on December 28, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /

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37. Zion Williamson

Even if he gets a little too much publicity every time he breathes on the major networks, the hype around Zion Williamson is mostly well-deserved. Let’s start with raw numbers. Last season in just 27.8 minutes per game he averaged 22.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. He shot well from deep (42.9 percent) and from the field (58.3 percent). The former can be somewhat ignored given it was on less than one attempt per game but it is promising nonetheless.

Health will be the concern but watching a team do everything they can to build around a transcendent young talent through a mountain of draft picks is so much fun. Williamson is in a place to put up monster numbers and will do so whenever he is on the court. He will be an All-Star this year from popularity alone and he will earn it on the court.

He is not perfect and needs to continue to work. Some of the sheen has faded given the struggle in the bubble for this team but Zion is the truth. Given the defensive pieces and spacing they added so far he can simply focus on what he excels at: burying people with monster lobs from Lonzo Ball.